Anaphor
/ˈæ.nə.fɔɹ/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An expression referring to another expression. In stricter uses, an expression referring to something earlier in the discourse or, even more strictly, only reflexive and reciprocal pronouns.
"Thus far, we have established that each other is an NP [noun phrase] which functions as a reciprocal anaphor requiring to take its reference from some antecedent elsewhere in the sentence, and that themselves is an NP which functions as a reflexive anaphor which also requires an antecedent to take its reference from."
- 2 a word (such as a pronoun) used to avoid repetition; the referent of an anaphor is determined by its antecedent wordnet
Example
More examples"Thus far, we have established that each other is an NP [noun phrase] which functions as a reciprocal anaphor requiring to take its reference from some antecedent elsewhere in the sentence, and that themselves is an NP which functions as a reflexive anaphor which also requires an antecedent to take its reference from."
Etymology
Back-formation from anaphora.